influencers – Page 2 – Virtually Islamic News

Sun 1 Shawwal 1446AH 30-3-2025AD
Andrew Tate, Influencers

Tate update

I continue to post on the Tates, given the role of Andrew Tate as an ‘influencer‘ (as discussed in ‘Islamic Algorithms‘): The Trump administration pressured the Romanian government to...

Fri 8 Shaban 1446AH 7-2-2025AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Malaysia, Malaysia Internet

Malaysia Influencer Paranormal ‘Hoax‘

SCMP, Rescue of ‘missing’ Malaysian influencer from Indonesian jungle sparks hoax claims, 7 Feb 2025 (posted retrospectively) “Malaysian social media has been gripped by the antics of an influencer...

Thu 18 Jumada Al Akhira 1446AH 19-12-2024AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Influencers

Indonesian influencers

This subject features in ‘Islamic Algorithms‘, and is well worth further study: I was interested to read this from Michelle Anindya @restofworld.org on Indonesian influencers. I write about influencers...

Mon 23 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 25-11-2024AD
Influencers, Tunisia, Tunisia internet,

Tunisian Influencers

Tunisian influencers are facing difficulties and censorship, writes Le Monde (paywalled): For influencers in Tunisia, respect for 'public decency' or prison www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-…...

Wed 29 Rabi Al Awwal 1446AH 2-10-2024AD
Gender, Influencers, TikTok, Turkey, Turkey Internet, Türkiye

Şulemsi TikTok

Kaya Genç, Rest of World, The Turkish TikToker teaching young women to be religious girlbosses, 1 Oct 2024 “With 2.3 million followers, Kayatürk, a makeup artist and entrepreneur, is...

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Influencers, Iraq, Iraq Internet, TikTok

Baghdad Influencer Murdered

The National, Iraq investigates killing of TikTok influencer in Baghdad, 27 April 2024 “A “specialised work team” had been set up to investigate the circumstances of the death of...

Sat 11 Shawwal 1445AH 20-4-2024AD
Environment, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Influencers

Indonesian Influencers

Michelle Anindya, Rest of World, Indonesia taps influencers to convince people to move to its new, under-construction capital, 19 Apr 2024. “With more than half of Indonesia’s population of...

Wed 4 Shaban 1445AH 14-2-2024AD
Albania, Influencers, TikTok

UK Government TikTok Anti-Migrant Campaign

Kieran Kelly, LBC, Albanian TikTok influencers to be paid thousands to warn migrants against crossing Channel in small boats, 14 Feb 2024 “In Albania, a rapper, two comedians, lifestyle...

Fri 2 Safar 1445AH 18-8-2023AD
Influencers, Research

Recent research: Millennial Muslims

MRC Cusi, A Berghout, Millennial Muslims and Use of Cyber-Islam: A Case Study of Bilal Philips and Mufti Menk on Twitter and their Impacts – Journal of Islam in Asia...

Fri 17 Muharram 1445AH 4-8-2023AD
Environment, Indonesia Internet, Influencers

Bandung Indonesia Pandawara ‘clean up’

Ardila Syakriah, The Guardian, TikTok stars clean up: the influencers saving Indonesia’s polluted rivers and beaches, 3 August 2023 “On TikTok, their profile – @pandawaragroup – contains over 100 short videos...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

AI ‘Fake Journalism‘ Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Starlink Test Implications Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Virtually Islamic on Substack Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Iran AI Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Indonesia Online Gambling Thu 27 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 8-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

Shawwal 1446
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Ram				Qid »
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30